SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU center Peter Jurkin has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for all contests from Jan. 2-8. The award is selected by the league office.

Jurkin averaged 15.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in just 20.5 minutes per game as the Bucs improved to 12-4 overall and 3-0 in SoCon play with a pair of road wins over league opponents.

A 7-0 sixth-year senior out of Juba, South Sudan, Jurkin opened his week with 15 points, two rebounds and a blocked shot in ETSU’s 90-72 win at Samford on Thursday. He was 5-for-6 from the floor and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line on the night.

At Chattanooga two days later, Jurkin again scored 15 points, this time adding 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. He blocked three shots and went 4-for-8 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the free-throw line as the Bucs rolled to their largest-ever road win over the Mocs, 85-66.

For the week, Jurkin was 9-for-14 from the floor (64.3 percent) and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line (91.7 percent). 

The Bucs, ranked No. 5 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25, return to action Thursday when they host UNCG (11-4, 2-0), ranked 18th in the mid-major poll, at Freedom Hall in Johnson City, Tennessee, at 7 p.m.

Other nominees: Quayson Williams (The Citadel), Daniel Fowler (Furman), Desmond Ringer (Mercer), James Dickey (UNCG), Justin Coleman (Samford), Nat Dixon (Chattanooga), Mike Amius (Western Carolina) and Trevor Stumpe (Wofford).

2017-18 Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Players of the Week
Nov. 14 Ria’n Holland, Mercer
Nov. 21 Fletcher Magee, Wofford
Nov. 28 Devin Sibley, Furman
Dec. 5 Francis Alonso, UNCG
Dec. 12 Fletcher Magee, Wofford
Dec. 19 Marvin Smith, UNCG
Jan. 2 Cameron Jackson, Wofford
Jan. 9 Peter Jurkin, ETSU

-www.SoConSports.com-